Sunday, October 17, 1999
La Salle wins GCL cross country
BY JOHN SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The LaSalle boys cross country team strengthened its claim as the best team in the state with a commanding Greater Catholic League South championship on Saturday.
The Lancers placed four runners in the top ten at Rapid Run Park and scored 36 points to beat Elder (48), St. Xavier (51) and Moeller (85).
“From day one we've been preparing for this race and this course,” La Salle coach Frank Russo said. “It's a tough race because the course is demanding and it is the toughest league in the state, if not the country.”
The victory continues La Salle's unbeaten streak this season and is the Lancers first league and city championships since 1992 and 1993.
LaSalle, the No.1-ranked team in the city and the state, has now beaten eight of the other nine teams in the state's top 10. St.X, the defending Division I state champion, entered the GCL-S meet ranked No.2 in the city and No.3 in the state; Elder was No.3 in the city and No.5 in the state.
“We've beaten every top-10 team in the state with the exception of Brunswick (No. 2),” Russo said, “This victory is great, but nobody will remember it the first weekend in November.”
St. Xavier and Elder may remember if all three teams qualify for the state meet on Nov.6 at Scioto Downs racetrack in Columbus.
“The result today is very disappointing,” St. Xavier coach Larry Merkel said. “This is the first race against LaSalle this year, and we thought we matched up well with them. This gives us a sense of humility. There is no doubt we need to run better.”
LaSalle senior Steve Padgett took and early lead and went on to win the race for a second consecutive year.
“I was confident I would win the race,” Padgett said, “I was more concerned with how my teammates were doing. We wanted to make a statement in this race.”
Said Russo: “In 17 years of coaching, Steve is in my opinion the ultimate leader. Individually he is accomplished, but more importantly he makes everyone on the team better.”
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